wfn.org | Disciples News Briefs - August 19, 2005

["Wilma Shuffitt" <wshuffitt@cm.disciples.org>]

Disciples News Briefs
August 19, 2005
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: Wanda Bryant Wills, Editor
E-mail: News@cm.disciples.org

NORTH CAROLINA DISCIPLES DEDICATE NEW BUILDING AFTER TRAGIC FIRE
The Goldsboro Disciples Institute was dedicated on July 30 after being
destroyed four years ago in a tragic fire.  The new facility is located in
Goldsboro, N.C., and will serve as headquarters for the Goldsboro-Raleigh
District Assembly of the Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ International.  The institute has been pivotal in the development and growth of
African-American Disciples churches in North Carolina and Virginia.  It
served as the center of education and training of Disciples leaders when
segregation limited access to other resources.	Read comments about the
dedication written by Lois Artis, President of the Church Finance Council,
and General Ministry Partner to North Carolina, at: http://www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2005/0554.htm

SMALL DISCIPLES CONGREGATION HAS BIG PRESENCE AT GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The View Christian Church is a relatively new Disciples church in
Portland, Ore., that had nearly three-fourths of its members attend the
General Assembly. But their participation didn't stop there. Each member
of the church that attended the Assembly found a special way of providing
service. The View's members could be spotted working with New Church
Ministry, serving communion, acting as guides for Spirit Walk, and
displaying their musical talents.  Read the full story about The View at:
http://www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2005/0553.htm

GMP ISSUES COMMENTS FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF TAIZÉ LEADER
Disciples General Minister and President Sharon Watkins, has issued a
statement following the death of Brother Roger, an internationally
recognized advocate for unity, healing and reconciliation who was
tragically killed in France earlier this week.	Roger, 90, founded the
Taizé Community, an ecumenical monastic site, that has drawn thousands
of young people from around the world for the over 50 years.  A woman
wielding a knife stabbed him to death in front of thousands of worshippers
during an evening prayer service at Taizé, Burgundy in France.  The
killing was deplored by Pope Benedict XVI and by the head of the Anglican
Church.  Watkins spent a week worshipping and participating at the
community during a 2002 sabbatical. To read her comments http://www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2005/0555.htm

WEEK OF COMPASSION ANNOUNCES NEW STAFF MEMBER
Amy C. Gopp, an ordained minister, long-time Disciple and recent graduate
of Union Theological Seminary in New York, will assume her new position as
Week of Compassion (WOC) associate on Sept. 1.	She will share responsibilities for the administration and promotion of WOC and will give special
attention to strengthening relationships with youth, young adults,
seminarians, new congregations, and the various constituency organizations
within the church.  Along with Minister of WOC Johnny Wray, she will help
fulfill WOC's priority to renew and strengthen relationships with
Disciples congregations throughout the U.S. and Canada and the many church
partners with whom Disciples work to offer a faith-based response to
humanitarian needs in the world.

Previously, she worked with the Mennonite Central Committee and Church
World Service for four years in the former Yugoslavia and spent two
summers in Sudan and Kenya with the World Council of Churches.	At Union
Seminary she was co-founder of the Poverty Initiative and served as
Associate Pastor for Outreach Ministries at Park Avenue Christian Church
in New York.  Read the latest update on WOC at: http://www.weekofcompassion.org

CHALICE PRESS OFFERS NEW MULTICULTURAL RESOURCES
Christian Board of Publication, publishers of Chalice Press books and
resources, announces the recent release of several new multicultural
resources.

Somos Uno: Historia, teología y gobierno de la Iglesia Cristana
(Discípulos de Cristo), by Senior Editor of Christian Board of Publication Pablo A. Jimenez, is the newest Chalice Press release.  It is an
educational resource that journals many significant contributions of
Hispanics to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).  Somos Uno
(0-8272-3462-7, $9.99) is only available in Spanish.

Chalice Press has also recently released A Handbook for Korean-American
Disciples, by Geunhee Yu, the Executive Pastor for North American
Pacific/Asian Disciples (NAPAD).  This handbook offers concise information
on Disciples heritage, thought, worship, mission, and structure.  A
Handbook for Korean-American Disciples (0-8272-1451-0, $7.99) is available
in Korean only.  However, similar handbooks are available in English and
Spanish.  To read the full release or to place an order go to: http://www.cbp21.com/cont_main.asp?nID=73

RESOURCES AVAILABLE RELATED TO IMMIGRATION-RELATED GENERAL ASSEMBLY
RESOLUTIONS
Two resolutions related to immigration issues were passed at the General
Assembly.  Those resolutions were "Concerning our Relationship to the
People of Haiti and Haitians in North America" and "Our Ministry to and
with Undocumented Workers."  Disciples Home Missions' Refugee and
Immigration Ministries (RIM) has created resources to help congregations
carry out the actions called for in these resolutions.	Access these
resources at: http://www.discipleshomemissions.org/PDF/RIM/2005.0812.RIMupdate.pdf

LEXINGTON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY'S OPENING CONVOCATION APPROACHES
Lexington Theological Seminary (LTS) will celebrate two events during this
year's Opening Convocation at 11 a.m. on August 30 in the Mary Anne
Sanders Chapel on the LTS campus.  LTS will recognize the beginning of its
139th school year and will welcome to campus Baptist Seminary of Kentucky,
a free-standing seminary in its fourth year.  Beginning August 1, Baptist
Seminary of Kentucky now shares space on the LTS campus.  The speaker for
Opening Convocation will be University of Kentucky graduate Wendell Berry.
 Berry taught in the English department of the University of Kentucky in
Lexington, Ky., for several decades and is a noted Kentucky poet,
novelist, essayist, philosopher and farmer.  The Opening Convocation is
free and open to the public.  For more information on this celebration,
visit: http://www.lextheo.edu/news.html

NOTED AFRICAN LECTURER/THEOLOGIAN TO SPEAK AT CHRISTIAN THEOLOGICAL
SEMINARY
A world-renowned lecturer and theologian from the West African nation of
Ghana will be the featured speaker this fall in the second Saltsburg
Distinguished Lecture Series at Christian Theological Seminary (CTS) in
Indianapolis, Ind.   Mercy Amba Oduyoye will deliver three lectures on
September 19, 22 and 23 on the theme: "The Christian Gospel and African
Cultures: An African Woman's Perspective."  All three lectures are free
and open to the public, two at the seminary site and a third at North
United Methodist Church.  For detailed information regarding Oduyoye's
lectures go to:  http://www.cts.edu/news/FullStory.cfm?details=60&ref=News

INTERNATIONAL AUTHORITY WILL DELIVER WHEELER LECTURES ON INTERFAITH
DIALOGUE
Paul F. Knitter, recognized as one of the world's foremost authorities on
interfaith dialogue, will be the featured speaker during Ministers'
Week-Wheeler Lectures at Phillips Theological Seminary in Tulsa, Okla.,
Sept. 19-20.  Knitter is widely respected for his work to improve
relations among the world's faith communities in an effort to promote
global peace and responsible ecology.

During Ministers' Week, a two-day program called "Conversations with the
Holy" will offer workshops led by leaders of various faiths in Tulsa.  A
festival of sharing faith symbols, music, and dance will conclude the
meeting at 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 20 and is open to the public.

The program begins with lunch at noon on Sept. 19.  All meals are included
in the registration price of $60, $45 for students (U.S.).  Read the full
release at: http://www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2005/Knitter%20NewsRelease.pdf
 or register online at: http://www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2005/Schedule%20&%20Registration.pdf

DISCIPLES PASTOR AND GENERAL BOARD MEMBER DIES
Don Palmer Jr., pastor of United Christian Church in Los Angeles, Calif.,
and a member of the General Board, recently passed away.  The Homegoing
Celebration was held July 30 at United Christian Church and a message of
encouragement was brought forth by Palmer's friend and colleague Maddison
Shockley, a United Church of Christ minister.  Condolences may be sent to
the Palmer Family, c/o United Christian Church, 625 East 43rd Street, Los
Angeles, CA.

DISCIPLES PEACE FELLOWSHIP GIVES AWARD TO PROJECT R.I.O.T. AT GENERAL
ASSEMBLY
During General Assembly, the Disciples Peace Fellowship (DPF) presented
Todd Williams, pastor of New Covenant Christian Church in Houston, Texas,
with the Robert Bratkovich Award for the work that he has done and
continues to do with the poor, marginalized and homeless youth on the
streets of Houston through Project R.I.O.T. (Reaching In and Out Together).  Project R.I.O.T. is a reconciling ministry of New Covenant Christian
Church that distributes food and toiletries and provides a listening ear
to the homeless and those infected with HIV/Aids.  Williams and Project
R.I.O.T. were recognized by DPF for continuing to demonstrate an undying
commitment to justice, equality and peace.  Learn more at: http://www.forministry.com/USTXCCDOCNCCCN/BratkovichAward.dsp

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DNS Writer:	Kenethia Jackson

*The Disciples News Brief is distributed weekly or as needed by Communication Ministries.	For changes, additions or deletions to our distribution
list, please contact news@cm.disciples.org

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